Mimi Fox

Despite the quality of the first disc, the Second disc is what I have been listening to over and over again. Mimi Fox's solo work is intricate and lyrical. Easy on the ears, I think this would be an album that a casual listener could enjoy, but with enough going on rhythmically and harmonically to keep the active listen engaged as well. It starts with an elegant intro to Juan Tizol's "Caravan" followed by deep exploration of the tune that is evokative of JIm Hall or the late great Barney Kessel. Mimi's west-coast-cool, bop inspired style and solid chops shine throughout the rest of the CD, delivering a thoroughly enjoyable hour of music.

"Fox plays with tremendous fire. She can do pretty much anything she wants on her instrument." - Joe Pass

Born in New York City, Fox started playing drums at nine, and then guitar when she was ten. When she was fourteen, she bought her first jazz album and she was "blown away" by it. That album, John Coltrane's classic "Giant Steps," changed the course of her musical life. She began touring right out of high school and eventually moved to San Francisco in 1979, where she became a sought-after musician. She is Chair of the Guitar Department at the innovative Jazz School in Berkeley, California and adjunct professor at New York University.

Mimi has appeared as guest clinician at UCLA, Musician's Institute of Technology, CalArts, University of Connecticut, University of Oregon, the Britt Music Festival, and many others. She has written a book on jazz guitar studies published by Mel Bay Publications.

A seasoned player, Fox has performed with fellow guitarists Charlie Byrd, Charlie Hunter, Stanley Jordan and Kenny Burrell, as well as with Grammy award winners saxophonist David Sanchez and Manhattan Transfer's Janis Siegel, saxophonist Don Lanphere, Hammond B3 organ virtuosos Barbara Dennerlien and Dr. Lonnie Smith, and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. Fox has shared the bill with a wide array of artists including Diana Krall, Stevie Wonder and John Sebastian. She has performed her original scores as guest soloist with several orchestras, including Orchestra Sonoma, has composed music for theater, film and dance, and has appeared on numerous television shows such as BET on Jazz.

Fox maintains a whirlwind touring schedule, playing major jazz clubs and festivals from New York to Tokyo, including tours of the Caribbean, Japan, Thailand and Australia. She has performed at The Village Gate, Merkin Concert Hall and Sweet Rhythm in New York City, Blues Alley in Washington D.C., Jazz Alley in Seattle, Regattabar in Boston, The Ark in Ann Arbor, and Yoshi's, the Great American Music Hall and Kimball's East in the San Francisco area. She is a favorite at jazz and music festivals such as the Kennedy Center Women in Jazz Festival, the Guinness Cork Ireland Jazz Festival, the Britt Festival, the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival, the San Francisco & San Jose Jazz Festivals, the Perth International Jazz Festival, Bumbershoot, Port Townsend and Monterey Jazz Festivals.

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